Home | Editors | Features | Columns | Photos | Regional | New Groove Road Trip | Tour Journal | Venue | Levels | Ghosts | Homegrown | Inaudible | CDs

Southern Regional Report
Edited by Mike Jones - lovetoy2@geocities.com

Please contribute to the southern report- send concert reviews and other info to Mike Jones- lovetoy2@geocities.com

The Charlie Mars Band is a 4 piece that recently moved from Atlanta up to Athens and consists of Charlie Mars on guitar and lead vocals,Matt Ulmer on lead guitar and vocals, Andy Sample on the bass, and Andrew Hanmer on the drums. The band began in Dallas, TX where Charlie metAndy and Andrew. They released their first album, Broken Arrow, to much critical success and began touring the Southeast. On down the road,Matt Ulmer enters the band and they all move to Atlanta and eventuallyrelease the band's second album, Born And Razed. This release brought the band even more attention regionally. They have played in several recordlabel showcases in the past few months. They also played at 4 festivals to a rather large and accepting audience. The festivals being Music Midtown in Atlanta, Jubilee Jam and ZFest in Jackson, MS, and City Stages in Birmingham, AL. They have opened for such acts as 311, Jackopierce, Sister Hazel, The Outfield, and Jupiter Coyote.

I recently drove to Tuscaloosa, AL for a show on October 7th at a club called Pounder's. I knew I was probably in for a great showbecause the last time they played at this venue the show lasted almost three hours and the band broke out into some great cover songs that I haven't heard them ever play again. This night turned out to be quite thesame. Except this night featured new originals and not quite as many covers. I had heard a lot of the new material at other shows but they played twoon this night that were brand new to my ears, "Stick To My Guns" and "Hear Me Now". Both of these songs rock and are some of what I think is the bands best yet. These go along with other new material such as, "Cold Shoulder", "North Star", "Hourglass", and "It's Just Time". I think "North Star" may be my favorite song the band has written thus far, a song about being away from home, sometimes too far away. The band also broke out some covers that I haven't heard in awhile, most notably,Steve Miller Band's "The Joker".

Talk for a third album is just now coming around and with the six tunes I've heard so far, I can't wait for the album. This band just keeps getting better and the sound just keeps getting tighter. Thisband is headed for bigger and better things so I would advise that you getout and see them now while you still can in the clubs.

There are two known web sites for the band. First is the band's official site, which is about to go an overhaul, there you can find out the basics such as tour dates, order merchandise, and get on the bands official mailing list. You can find it at http://www.charliemarsband.com The second web site is a fan site andcan be found at http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/9460/CMB.html Here, the newest and perhaps best addition is the tape trading database that is getting started. It's trying to bring together people that tape and/or trade shows of the band and is also trying to bring out peoplewho have shows that aren't listed and bring in new converts to the wholetape trading scene. At this site you can also view live pictures of theband, listen to sound samples (both studio and live), post on a message board, or talk in the chat room.

The band is being included on two upcoming compilation discs that should be readily available, especially on the net. #1) Deep South / Pieces from Born & Razed. Deep South compilation has been recognized for having Sister Hazel, Athenaeum & Marcy Playground to name a few. #2) Notes From Home / Black Dress from Born & Razed. Notes From Home is a regional compilation targeted forVA, NC, SC folks and works as a sampler for retail purposes. If you get the chance, be sure to pick up the compilation discs as well as the two releases by the band, Broken Arrow and Born And Razed.

Hip-Hop Folk: Ani Difranco in Nashville

In the classic Nashville venue, the Ryman Auditorium, I witnessed an amazing show by one of the strongest artists of the 90s. Ani Difranco brought her unique brand of music to Nashville on 28Sep98. I got my first taste of this fabulous singer/songwriter/performer and will goback for more.Technically, I would not classify her as a "jamband" act but she does exhibit, in glorious fashion, many of the qualities that I look for in jambands. First, Ani has a dedicated fanbase filled with stories ofprior shows and unique happenings. Secondly, she puts her heart and soul onthe line during the show. Although her setlists might be very similiar each night I would seriously doubt any two shows are alike.

Nashville and the Ryman proved to be a very unique and wonderful show. The energy in the audience was amazing. This was a sold out show of Ani veterens mixed with the many Ani newbies. Much like the Fox in Atlanta and the Saenger in New Orleans, the Ryman creates a certain amount of excitment with it's legendary status. For those that don't know, the Ryman is the site of the original Grand Ole Opry radio & TV show. The place is filled with memorabilia of the era. All this on top of the fact that it was originally a chruch. There are very few venues where you sit in wooden pews in the Confederate Gallery. Shows are always special when they are at the Ryman.

I had never seen Ani before and was excited, having heard many wonderful things about her live show. I own her two most recent CDs, including the live "Living In Clip"(Righteous Babe 11) but I was unprepared for the vibrancy and enthusiasm of Ani and the sound of her band. Ani bubbles like a little girl. She giggles and bounces and stammers through songs and stage banter. She revels in being on stage. It's refreshing to see someone who's been on the road for as long as she has to still have that enthusiasm.

Most striking was the sound of her band. These folks were very tight and have a very funky groove. In many ways I was reminded of a more grounded Dave Matthews Band. There were very few solos and musical tangents but they laid a very funky sound, mostly attributed to the drummer with his subwoofer styled kick drum (he had a resonator in front of his kickdrum). They went through some of Ani's older catalog and quite a few new songs including a wonderful solo version of Woody Guthrie's "Do Re Mi" that took the energy level up a couple of notches. The conspicuously missing song was "As Is," a song from her new album "Little Plastic Castle" that is getting alot of airplay in the area...she is a kindred spirit to the jambands when she ignores the popular song! :-)

If you like well written songs performed with a little pretense, a lotof enthusiasm and a rockin' band go see Ani Difranco. If you like folk with a hip-hop beat go see Ani.Jai Sanders Jai is an amateur audio archivist from Nashville, TN who is always searching for the sound.